The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-05-25
T FL e
DEFECTIVE STREET WORK.

1t Is an ungracIOuS as Well as a LnanK-
less task to point out, from day to day,
the plumbers and inexcusable ignorance
displayed by those who appear to have
charge of public works in this country.
OF course, when competent engineers are
entrusted to do what may be necessary the
case is different, but we have arrived at
a stage in public affairs when the SER
vices of trained men are dispensed with,
and ignorant and wholly inexperienced
persons are entrusted with the execu-
ton of nearly every important work.
We refer more especially now to the
Beretania street job, which is being
pushed forward regardless OF expense,
and will all have to be done over again.
No attention has been paid to the
permanent city levels, and the road
crest is an average of six inches higher
than the footpaths on either side. The
consequence will be, during heavy rain,
that the footpaths and tenements front
ing the street will be flooded, there be-
ing no channels formed to carry off the
storm water. This inconvenience would
have been avoided if the Minister of the
Interior, by whose orders the work is
being done, had only obeyed the law.
The ADVERTISER repeatedly directed his
attention to chapter "a, Session Laws OF
1886, ''to establish the grade of streets
and highways, and the grades and
widths of sidewalks in the city of
Honolulu" approved October 10, 1886.
This Act declares that cit shall be the
duty of the Minister of the Interior to
appoint Commission of three civil en-
gineers, one of whom shall be the Super
intendent of Public Works, to establish
the grades of all streets and highways,
and the grades and widths of all eide
walks thereon, in the city of Honolulu ;"
and the Legislature intended prompt
action in the premises, forth law pro-
vides: "Any vacancy R/the said Com
mission shall be filled Immediately"
Has the Minister of the Interior dis
charged ssats bis duty under this law? By no
means. He is above all considerations
of that kind for he has ignored the law.
Mr.. Aholo is apparently law unto him
self; and he is now Systematically vast
ing the taxpay ers' money in building
causeway along Beretania street which
must be removed at heavy expense, The
roadbed dug out, and paved street with
water channels and sidepaths formed on
the permanent level.
What makes this thing wholly mex
cusable is the fact that the work of sur
veying and grading has been already
done by officers of the Survey Depart
ment, which is under Minister Aholo's
control; and the plans and profles as
required by law, showing grades and
sewers of the streets, highways and side
walks in the city of Honolulu, ''to which
all work on the streets, highways and
sidewalks shall conform" are on file in
the Survey Office, and have been paid
for by the Government The work is
complete in every requirement, and all
Mr.. Aholo had to do when he took office
was to appoint Commission of civil en-
gineers, as required by statute, to adopt |
and approve these plans, and order that |
all street work should conform thereto. |
But the Minister would not do this, |
although the law declares that it is his
duty. On the contrary, he has per-
mitted the streets to get into disgrace
full condition, dangerous to life and
limb In many, places, and when he
undertakes repairs on an extensive
scale his Road Supervisor succeeds in
efectually botching the job and wasting
public money.